Diagonally braced sheet metal framing wall

ABSTRACT

A bracing beam extends at a diagonal between an end portion of a track and a stud, or between two studs. A series of the brace beam sections extend along a diagonal line to diagonally brace a framing wall. Each bracing beam section has a web and a pair of flanges connected to the web. The ends of the beam are cut so as to form end members which are end portions of the web of the bracing beam. The web ends are fastened by screws to two framing members between which the bracing beam extends. Some of the web end portions of the brace beams are connected to the outside of the web of the stud and others are connected to the inside of the web of the stud.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to framing walls comprising horizontal and vertical sheet metal framing members. More particularly, it relates to framing walls in which bracing beam sections are provided between the studs for bracing the wall along a diagonal line or along crossing diagonal lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,850, granted Jul. 28, 1998, to William L. Elderson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,618, granted Feb. 8, 2000, to William L. Elderson, show prior art framing that includes a bracing member extending horizontally through openings in the webs of sheet metal studs. Some walls need to be braced better than other walls, e.g. walls that are subjected to high wind loads. A known way of bracing these walls is to attach crossing diagonal sheet metal straps to the flanges of the studs on one of both sides of the wall. Wall board is installed over the strapping. The presence of the strapping distorts the wall board enough that it is no longer planar and this can be seen. An object of the present invention is to provide a bracing system for a framing wall comprising one or more diagonal braces which are positioned inside of the wall so that exterior straps and the distortion to the wall board that they cause are eliminated.

There is a need for an improved way of bracing a framing wall without the use of openings in the webs of the studs or straps on the outsides of the studs. The principal object of the present invention is to meet this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A wall structure of the present invention includes first and second sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed web side and an open side. The open side of the first stud faces towards the closed side of the second stud. A sheet metal bracing beam extends at a diagonal between the first and second studs. The bracing beam is in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side. The bracing beam has web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the bracing beam. One web end portion of the bracing beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first stud and the other web end portion of the bracing beam is connected to the outside of the web of the second stud.

The present invention includes providing a wall composed of a plurality of studs and bracing beam sections extending diagonally between adjacent studs. The bracing beam sections have web end portions which are connected to the webs of the frame members between which it extends.

In preferred form, the sheet metal studs and the sheet metal bracing beams are substantially equal in width. The sheet metal studs and the bracing beams have flanges on a first side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the opposite of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane. Wall board may be attached to both the studs and the bracing beams on one or both sides of the wall structure.

A first line of bracing beam sections may extend along a diagonal from an upper corner to an opposite lower corner. Also, a second line of bracing beams may extend along a second diagonal extending between the other upper corner and the other lower corner.

More than one bracing beam section may be positioned between adjacent studs. For example, upper and lower bracing beam sections may be positioned between two studs and be connected at their ends to the webs of the studs.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the illustrated embodiments, set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims and from the principles that are embodied in the specific structures that are illustrated and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a framing wall formed of upper and lower tracks, vertical studs and diagonal brace beam sections, with a portion of the view shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale sectional view of the portion of FIG. 1 that is shown in circle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a brace beam, showing web end portions that in use are bent at an angle to rest of the web of the brace beam;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1 but showing crossing diagonal braces, each formed by brace beam sections;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure shown in the circle shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of a framing wall composed of tracks, studs and diagonal brace beams, such wall including two brace beams between each pair of studs;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 14-14 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of a brace beam;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of an end portion of a brace beam, showing a web end portion bent inwardly towards and making an acute angle with web of the beam; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a web end on a diagonal brace beam connected to the web of a connector member that is inside a stud.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a framing wall comprising an upper track or “header” 10, a lower track or “footer” 12, and a plurality of studs 14. The lower ends of the studs 14 fit down into the footer 12 and the upper ends of the studs 14 fit up into the header 10. Screws S are used to secure the header 10 and the footer 12 to the studs 14. The framing members 10, 12, 14 are made from sheet metal, preferably steel. The members 10, 12 are channels composed of a web 16 and a pair of flanges 18, 20 that extend perpendicular from the web 16, giving the members 10, 12 a U-shaped cross section. Studs 14 are in the nature of lipped channels. They are each composed of a web 22, a pair of flanges 24, 26, and a pair of lips 28, 30. The flanges 24, 26 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the web 22. The lips 28, 30 are parallel to the web 22 and are perpendicular to the flanges 24, 26. Screw fasteners S extend through the flanges 24, 26 of the header 10 and screw into the upper ends of the flanges of the studs 14. In similar fashion, screw fasteners S extend through the flanges 18, 20 of the footer 12 and screw into the lower ends of the flanges 24, 26 of the studs 14. What has been described so far is conventional structure.

According to the invention, the framing wall shown by FIG. 1 is diagonally reinforced or braced by bracing beams sections 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48. A diagonal line of the bracing beams section 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 starts from adjacent the upper left corner (as illustrated in FIG. 1) and extends downwardly to the lower right corner (as illustrated in FIG. 1). Bracing members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are preferably constructed from the same lipped channel material as the studs 12. Referring to FIG. 3, the flanges 44, 46 and webs 48 of the bracing members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are cut at their ends to form web end sections 50, 52 that are used to connect the bracing beam sections 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 to the webs of the header 10 (16), the footer 12 (16) and the studs 14 (22). As shown by FIG. 2, the bracing beam 32 has a web end section 50 that is screwed to the web 16 of the header 10, and to wall structure 54 above the web 16. Bracing beam 32 has another web end portion 52 that is connected to the second stud in from the left. Bracing beams sections 34, 36, 38, 40 have web end portions 50 that are connected to the webs 22 of the stud 14 between which the sections 34, 36, 38, 40 are located. Brace beam 42 has a web end section 50 at its upper end that is connected to the web 22 of the second stud 14 in from the right in FIG. 1. The lower end of bracing beam section 42 has a web end section 52 that is connected to the web 16 of the footer 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the brace beam section 32, has a web 48, a pair of flanges 44, 46 they are connected to the edges of the web 48. Flanges 44, 46 are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the web 48. Lips 54, 56 are connected to the flanges 44, 46 and they extend inwardly from the flanges 44, 46 towards each other in co-planar parallelism. Flange 44 and lip 54 form a first side of the lipped channel 32. Flange 46 and lip 56 form the second side of the lipped channel 32. These side portions 44, 54 and 46, 56 are cut at their ends 60, 62 and 64, 66, at a desired angle to the web 48. The end portions of the web 48 are cut to form web end sections 50, 52. The web end sections 50, 52 are cut so that they have a width that is at least slightly smaller than the width of the space between the flanges 54, 56. This is so that the web end sections 50, 52 can be bent back towards the web 48 and moved into the space between the flanges 54, 56, if necessary.

Referring to FIG. 2, the web end portion 50 of bracing beam 32 is at an angle larger than 180° to the inside of the web 48 and an angle of less than 180° to the outside of the web 48. The web end section 52 is bent in the same direction so that it also extends at an angle greater than 180° from the inside of the web 48 and at an angle less than 180° from the outside of the web 48. Referring to FIG. 3, ends 60, 62 are cut at such an angle that when the brace beam 32 is installed, the ends 60, 62 are substantially co-planar with the web end section 50. The same is true at the opposite end of the brace beam 32. The web end 64, 66 are cut at a similar angle so that when the brace beam 32 is installed the ends 64, 66 are substantially co-planar with the web end section 52.

The upper ends (as pictured in FIG. 1) of the brace beams 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are trimmed so that they have a web 68 that extends into the open side of the stud 22 to which it is connected. The side portions of these brace beams have diagonal ends that contact the lips 28, 30 on the studs 22. The web end projects inwardly into the stud 22 through the space between the lips 28, 30 and then bends at 70 and extends along the stud web 22 (FIG. 2). The lower ends of brace beams 34, 36, 38, 40 are attached to the stud web 22 in the same manner that web end 52 of brace beam 32 is connected to the web of its stud 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a framing wall that is braced along crossing diagonal lines. FIG. 4 is like FIG. 1 except that it is taken from the opposite side of the framing wall. As a result, the closed or web sides of the studs 14 are on the right whereas in FIG. 1 they were on the left. The open sides of the webs 14 are on the left whereas in FIG. 1 they were on the right. One of the diagonal braces is formed by brace beams 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80. The other diagonal brace is formed by braced beams 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92. The lower end of brace beam 82 and the upper end of brace beam 92 have web ends 94, 96 that are bent to make an acute angle with the web of the brace beam 82, 92. FIG. 16 shows the upper end of brace beam 92. Its web end 96 forms an acute angle X with web 98. Web end 94 of brace beam 82 is bent to form an acute angle with the outside of its web 100.

The upper end of brace beam 70 is like the upper end of brace beam 92. The lower end of brace beam 80 is like the lower end of brace beam 82. The lower ends of brace beams 70, 72, 76, 78 and the lower ends of brace beams 84, 86, 90, 92 are formed like the lower ends of brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 in FIG. 1. The lower ends of brace beams 70, 72, 76, 78 and the upper ends of brace beams 82, 84, 88, 90 are formed like the upper ends of brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of brace beam 86 is formed like the end of brace beam 92, shown in FIG. 16. Its web end 102 is connected to the web 104 of brace beam 74. The lower end of brace beam 74 is like the upper end of brace beam 34, as shown in FIG. 2. The lower end of brace beam 88 is also like the upper end of brace beam 92. It has a web end 106 that is connected to the web 108 of the stud 14 shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 14 show the use of a pair of brace beams 32, 32′, 34, 34′, 36, 36′, 38, 38′, 40, 40′, 42, 42′ where single brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are situated in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The additional brace beams 32′, 34′, 36′, 38′, 40′, 42′ may have their webs directed upwardly. Their ends 53 that are connected to the stud webs are bent to form an acute angle with the outside of the brace beam web. The web end that is attached to the inside of a stud web is cut in the manner shown by FIG. 14.

In the embodiment shown by FIG. 1, additional brace beams can be placed along both a diagonal line that is below the diagonal line on which brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are situated. Also, the brace beams may be positioned with their open sides directed downwardly and their closed or web sides directed upwardly. Also, connector members 100 may be positioned inside of the studs 14 for the purpose of providing the wall that closes the opening between the lips where the end of a brace beam will be attached. This is shown by FIG. 17. Screws S may extend through the stud flanges 24, 26 and screw into the connector member flanges. It is also a part of the invention to weld end portions of the brace beams to the studs and/or the tracks to provide a stronger connection.

In all of the embodiments, the brace beams preferably are equal in width to the width of the studs 14. Typically, this width is 3½ inches. When the brace beam widths are substantially the same as the stud widths the brace beam flanges and the stud flanges are substantially co-planar, on both sides of the wall. When the wallboard WB is attached, it can be connected to the brace beams as well as to the studs. This results in the wallboard WB providing additional bracing to the framing wall. This can result in an extremely strong wall construction.

The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the disclosed structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments that are illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be determined by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use of the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A wall structure, comprising: first and second sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed web side and an open side; said open side of the first stud facing towards the closed side of the second stud; a sheet metal brace beam extending at a diagonal between the first and second studs, said brace beam being in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; said brace beam having web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the brace beam; and wherein one web end portion of said brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first stud and the other web end portion of the brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the second stud.
 2. The wall structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second sheet metal studs and the sheet metal brace beam are substantially equal in width, and the first and second sheet metal studs and the brace beam have flanges on a first side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the opposite side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane.
 3. The wall structure of claim 2, wherein the flanges of the brace beam have ends that are substantially contiguous the brace beam web end portions and the studs.
 4. The wall structure of claim 1, comprising screw fasteners extending through the brace beam web end portions and the webs of the first and second studs for connecting the brace beam to the studs.
 5. The wall structure of claim 3, wherein the ends of the flanges of the brace beam are substantially parallel to the webs of the first and second sheet metal studs.
 6. The wall structure of claim 2, comprising screw fasteners extending through the brace beam web end portions and the webs of the first and second studs for connecting the brace beam to the studs.
 7. The wall structure of claim 6, wherein the flanges of the brace beam have ends that are substantially contiguous the brace beam web end portions and the studs.
 8. A wall structure, comprising: first, second and third sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed web side and an open side; said open side of the first stud facing towards the closed side of the second stud; said open side of the second stud facing towards the closed side of the first stud; a first sheet metal brace beam extending at a diagonal between the first and second studs, said brace beam being in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; a second sheet metal brace beam extending at a diagonal between the second and third studs, said second brace beam being in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; said second sheet metal brace beam being substantially co-linear with the first sheet metal brace beam; said first brace beam having web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the first brace beam; said second brace beam having web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the second brace beam; wherein one web end portion of the first brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first stud and the other web end portion of the first brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the second stud; and wherein one web end portion of the second brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the second stud and the other web end portion of the second brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the third stud.
 9. The wall structure of claim 8, wherein the first, second and third sheet metal studs and the first and second sheet metal brace beams are substantially equal in width, and the first, second and third sheet metal studs and the first and second brace beams have flanges on a first side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the opposite side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane.
 10. The wall structure of claim 9, wherein the flanges of the brace beams have ends that are substantially contiguous the end portions of the webs of the brace beam.
 11. The wall structure of claim 8, comprising screw fasteners extending through the end portions of the webs of the brace beams and the webs of the studs to which they are connected.
 12. The wall structure of claim 8, wherein the first brace beam slopes upwardly from its connection to the second stud to its connection with the first stud, and the second brace beam slopes downwardly from its connection to the second stud to its connection with the third stud.
 13. The wall structure of claim 11, comprising a third brace beam extending at a diagonal between the first stud and the second stud; a fourth brace beam extending at a diagonal between the second stud and the third stud; wherein the third brace beam slopes downwardly from its connection to the second stud to its connection with the first stud, and the fourth brace beam slopes upwardly from its connection to the second stud to its connection with the third stud; wherein the third and fourth brace beams are each in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; wherein the web portion of the third brace beam has web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the third brace beam; wherein the web portion of the fourth brace beam has web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the fourth brace beam; wherein the web end portion of the third brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first stud, and the opposite web end portion of the third brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the first brace beam; wherein the web end portion of the fourth brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the second stud; and wherein the web end portion of the fourth brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the third stud.
 14. A wall structure, comprising: a plurality of laterally spaced apart sheet metal studs; said wall structure having first and second ends, an upper corner portion at one end and a lower corner portion at the other end; a plurality of sheet metal brace beam sections positioned between the studs, and together forming a diagonal brace extending substantially from the first corner to the second corner; said sheet metal studs each being in the form of a channel having a closed web side and an open side; said open side of each stud facing towards the closed side of an adjacent stud; said sheet metal brace beam sections comprising channels, each including a web; said brace beam sections having web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the brace beam section; and wherein said brace beam sections have web end portions that are connected to the webs of the studs.
 15. The wall structure of claim 14, comprising two brace beam sections between adjacent studs, one above the other, each said brace beam section having web end portions that are connected to the webs of the studs.
 16. The wall structure of claim 14, wherein the sheet metal studs and the sheet metal brace beam sections are substantially equal in width, and the studs and the brace beam sections have flanges on a first side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the opposite side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane.
 17. A brace beam section, comprising: an elongated body including a web, a pair of side flanges connected to the web and projecting perpendicular from the web, and a pair of lips connected to the side flanges and extending inwardly towards each other, in co-planar parallelism, and extending parallel to the web and perpendicular to the flanges; web end portions at the ends of the brace beam section; diagonal end surfaces on the flanges and the lips; and said web end portions being bent at an angle to the web of the brace beam body.
 18. The bracing beam section of claim 17, wherein at least one of the web end portions makes an angle of less than 180° with the outer surface of the web of the bracing beam section at an angle greater than 180° with the inner surface of the web of the bracing beam section.
 19. The bracing beam of claim 17, wherein at least one web end extends at an acute angle to the inside surface of the web of the body of the bracing beam.
 20. The bracing beam section of claim 17, wherein the flanges and lips at one end of the bracing beam section form a diagonal end surface that is substantially co-planar with the web end section. 